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Updated: Feb 4, 2026

The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
An exploration of the relationship between social support and depressive symptoms in schizophrenia
Jane Simms1, Ciaran Mulholland2
1School of Communication,University of Ulster,Shore Road Newtownabbey,BT37 OQB,Northern Ireland.
Objective:
Depressive symptoms in schizophrenia have previously been associated with a perceived lack of social support. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between perceived social support and depressive symptoms in schizophrenia; to assess the psychological wellbeing of their carers; and to examine the quality of the relationship between the patients and their carers.
Method:
Individuals with schizophrenia (n = 17) were assessed on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), a measure of perceived social support, the Significant Others Scale (SOS) and the Quality of Relationship Inventory (QRI).
Results:
The mean score on the BDI for patients fell within the moderate-severe range and the mean range on the BHS fell within the moderate range. Family and friends were perceived as supportive resources by patients. There was no significant relationship between patient depressive symptoms or hopelessness and perceived social support. Carers of patients did not report high rates of depressive symptoms or hopelessness.
Conclusions:
These findings do not support the previous finding of an association between depressive symptoms and a perceived lack of social support in schizophrenia.
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